CIRM Offers Update on State’s Stem Cell Research Progress

At UC-Davis last week, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine gave an update on the state's progress in stem cell research, the Sacramento Business Journal reports (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 4/1).

Background on CIRM

California founded CIRM in 2004 after voters approved Proposition 71, which provided $3 billion to help stem cell researchers develop therapies for various conditions (California Healthline, 5/5/11).

So far, more than 600 grants totaling about $1.9 billion have been awarded for stem cell research related to nearly 40 different diseases.

An additional $500 million has been pledged or set aside for future projects.

The agency has about $600 million left to award through 2017.

After that, CIRM will need to look to private groups or another ballot measure to secure additional funding, the Business Journal reports.

Research Project Details

According to the Business Journal, nine of the first 14 research teams funded by CIRM have started to enroll patients in clinical trials or will begin doing so by the end of 2014.

The trials will focus on finding treatments for diseases including:

• Blood disorders;
• Degenerative eye disease;
• Leukemia;
• Sickle cell disease;
• Solid tumor cancers; and
• Type 1 diabetes.

Meanwhile, two research projects are already underway, according to CIRM staff.

One program is focusing on test therapies for HIV/AIDS, while the other is studying treatment options for congestive heart failure (Sacramento Business Journal, 4/1).